The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

01/22/2016 – Land O’ Lakes AARP meeting

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Land O’ Lakes AARP Chapter 4764 will meet on Jan. 22 at 10:30 a.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Guests can learn about the Senior Victim Advocacy Program within the Pasco-Pinellas Area Agency on Aging. Also during the meeting, the chapter will receive an award presented by the Florida AARP State Office for being the only Florida chapter to meet the “Beyond Excellence Chapter” standard for 2015. For information, email ">.

01/22/2016 to 01/24/2016 – Community theater

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Betmar Acres, 37145 Lakewood Drive in Zephyrhills, will present two one-act plays on Jan. 22, Jan. 23 and Jan. 24. The plays are “Case of Mistaken Identity,” about a woman with five appointments with five different representatives to solve five problems, and “Hobo Hipster,” about how an electronic explosion has an affect on Bev’s Bistro. Dessert will be served by the actors during intermission. Tickets are $5. For information, call Joanne Stepler at (585) 334-8344.

01/21/2016 – Senior games

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The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host “Senior Games” on Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be cards, board games and video games for adults. For information, call (813) 929-1214.

01/21/2016 – Teen movie

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The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, will host a teen movie with pizza on Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. To find out what movie is showing, call (813) 788-6375.

01/21/2016 – Learn to use hand & power tools

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The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a presentation on “Hand Tools, Power Tools and More” on Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., for ages 16 and older. Participants can learn how to use basic power tools. A signed liability waiver is required, and dress code guidelines must be followed for safety. For information and to register, call (813) 929-1214.

01/31/2016 – New Tampa Players auditions

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New Tampa Players will host auditions for “Something’s Afoot” on Jan. 31 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Feb. 1 from 7 p.m. to 10  p.m., at the University Area Community Development Center, 14013 N. 22nd St., in Tampa. The show will be performed starting April 7. Those interested in auditioning should prepare 16 bars of a song that showcase range and personality, and sheet music. For information, email .

01/22/2016 – Senior talent show auditions

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Bright House Networks is having auditions for the 11th annual Bright Stars Senior Idol Show, which will be April 19 at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Auditions will be Jan. 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at CARES Elfers Center, 4136 Barker Drive in New Port Richey. Ten acts from the auditions will be chosen to perform at the Bright Star Senior Talent Regional Show on Feb. 27 at 2 p.m., at the Center for the Arts at River Ridge High School. Tickets for the regional show are $7, with proceeds to benefit CARES Elfers Center. For audition information, call (727) 847-1290 or (727) 326-1255.

Chalk Talk 01/13/2016

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Saint Leo Community Service Day
Saint Leo University’s “Spring Community Service Day” will be Jan. 18, in conjunction with the campus’ celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The university will host a guest speaker and a community children’s fair as part of the festivities.

The guest speaker will be Peggy A. Quince, justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, on the topic of the importance of Dr. King’s message of working to combat poverty among American youth. The noon presentation will be in the Student Community Center boardrooms.

Following Justice Quince’s presentation, there will be a children’s fair on campus from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with face painting, sand art and several inflatables.

Admission is free, and the presentation is open to the public.

The campus is at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

STEM magnet school info meetings
Centennial Middle STEM Magnet School, scheduled to open in August, will host parent information sessions at 6 p.m., as follows:

  • Jan. 19 at Dr. John Long Middle School, 2025 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel
  • Jan. 20 at Centennial Middle School, 38505 Centennial Road in Dade City
  • Jan. 21 at Chester W. Taylor Elementary School, 3638 Morris Bridge Road in Zephyrhills

Parents of sixth- and seventh-graders at the host schools, as well as those of current fifth-graders in the elementary schools that feed into them, are encouraged to attend.

The superintendent, the magnet school principal, and district staff will discuss the STEM magnet theme and programs that will be offered at the school. Parents also will hear about magnet school application timelines and options for transportation.

Martin Luther King Jr. lecture
Pasco-Hernando State College’s 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture Series will host guest speaker Mark Anthony Neal on the topic of “Hip Hop, Civil Rights and Social Media.”

There will be five presentations over a two-day period.

  • Jan. 20 at 10 a.m., Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., Room B-303, in Wesley Chapel
  • Jan. 20 at 6 p.m., East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road, Room A-240, in Dade City
  • Jan. 21 at 9:45 a.m., via web telecast, North Campus, 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd., B-104/105, in Brooksville
  • Jan. 21 at 9:45 a.m., West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road, Performing Arts Center, in New Port Richey
  • Jan. 21 at 7 p.m., Spring Hill Campus, 450 Beverly Court, Room B-105

Admission is free. For information, call (855) 669-7472.

Thursday Musicale offers scholarships
The Thursday Musicale, a women’s choral group formed to promote music in Pasco and Hernando counties, offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Pasco and Hernando counties who plan to study music in college and make it a career.

The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Jan. 22. Auditions will be Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Seven Springs in New Port Richey.

For applications, contact your high school career counselor and/or music director.

For information, email .

Take Stock in Children applications
Take Stock in Children scholarship applications are now being accepted online through Jan. 24 for Pasco County Schools’ students on free/reduced lunch in grades eight to 10.

The organization, a program with the Pasco Education Foundation and partnered with Pasco County Schools, has provided scholarships, mentors and hope since 1995.

For information and an application, visit PascoEducationFoundation.org.

School photographer celebrates with fundraiser
Paul Gigante, a professional school photographer since 1991 in Tampa Bay, has seen the need to help less fortunate homeless high school seniors, as they transition after graduation to start college careers. His goal is to raise $50,000 at a benefit to help as many students from the Class of 2016 in Pasco and Hillsborough counties as possible.

Gigante will host a “H4 Benefit” (Helping Our Homeless High Schoolers Achieve Higher Education) at Skipper’s Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road in Tampa, on Jan. 24 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Entertainment will include the USF “HOT” Pep Band, The Butch Ryan Band, local disc jockeys, and others.

There also will be silent auctions, sports memorabilia, gift baskets, a 50/50 raffle, corn hole tournament, photo booth and more.

The cover charge is a birthday card for Paul with a donation payable to “H4 Benefit.”

Corporate/local business partnerships/personal and family sponsorships are available.

For information, contact Paul Gigante at (813) 340-4080.

Saint Leo welcomes new partners
Saint Leo University now has professional working agreements with four new community partners in Florida.

The new organizations include Bay Area Youth Services Inc., The Gracepoint Foundation, Miami-Dade County, and Oglethorpe Inc.

BAYS is a nonprofit with the objective of improving the quality of life and increasing the potential of Florida’s youth.

Gracepoint is a nonprofit with a mission to educate, advocate for, and give hope to all people touched by behavioral health and developmental challenges.

Miami-Dade County government provides major metropolitan services countywide and city-type services for residents of unincorporated areas. It also provides employee discount services to all employees.

Oglethorpe’s mission is to breathe new life into failed or failing psychiatric health centers and to restore their place in their communities.

Rasmussen launches accelerated entrance options
Rasmussen College has launched two accelerated entrance options for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at its Land O’ Lakes/East Pasco campus.

The college’s BSN degree program is available with the new, accelerated pre-licensure entrance options designed for students committed to the nursing profession and eager to launch their careers as quickly as possible. The options also help fill a significant need for registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees in the Tampa Bay area.

To learn more about the accelerated entrance options, visit Rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing.

Parkinson’s support

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The Tampa Area Parkinson’s Supporrt Group will meet Jan. 20 at 1 p.m., at North Tampa Library, 8916 North Blvd., in Tampa. The guest speaker will be Dr. Terri Edwards from the USF School of Aging, on the topic of video games. Anyone diagnosed with Parkinson’s, as well as caregivers and family members, can attend. Light refreshments will be served. For information, call Jane Lowry at (813) 908-6685 or Adele Ida Walter at (813) 932-6902.

Optimizing fat loss

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The Health & Wellness Center of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, 2700 Healing Way, will offer an “Optimizing Fat Loss” seminar on Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m., in the conference room second floor. Participants can learn the latest strategies to kick fat loss into high gear, including the best current practices in fitness, nutrition and lifestyle. Reservations are required. Admission is free for members, and $5 for non-members. For information, call (813) 929-5432.